Dispenser apparatus for disposable carton

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for dispensing materials from disposable cartons of the type having a sloping top provided with a central upstanding seal closing the top. The apparatus includes a pair of sloping sides which conform to the top of the carton and means interconnecting the sides for attaching the same to the seal. One of the sides has a hole therethrough for receiving a pump which is adapted to extend into the carton and operable to remove the contents thereof. The other side of the device can be provided with a second hole defining a template for use in cutting a hole in the carton.

[54] DHSIPENSER APPARATUS FOR DHSPOSABLE CARTON 76] Inventor: Marshall 1R. Blum, 1224 Maripasa,

' San Francisco, Calif.

[22] Filed: May 15, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 37,606

[52] US. Cl. ..222/385, 222/321, 222/567 [51] Km. Cl. "B65111 5/72 [58] Field of Search ..222/81, 82, 85, 89, 320, 321,

1,937,344 11/1933 Hollingsworth ..222/385 2,650,004 8/1953 Smith ..222/567 3,458,090 7/1969 Scoggin ..222/385 X 111 3,721,370 HMMaH'ch 2@, 11972;

- Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Assistant Examiner-Frederick R. Handren Attorney-Townsend and Townsend [5 7 ABSTRACT Apparatus for dispensing materials from disposable cartons of the type having a sloping top provided with a central upstanding seal closing the top. The apparatus includes a pair of sloping sides which conform to the top of the carton and means interconnecting the sides for attaching the same to the seal. One of the sides has a hole therethrough for receiving a pump which is adapted to extend into the carton and operable to remove the contents thereof. The other side of the device can be provided with a second hole defining a template for use in cutting a hole in the carton.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATHHEUmzom FIG. 2

FIG; 3

INVENTOR. MARSHALL R. BLUM QZWMC/ ATTORNEYS DISPENSER APPARATUS FOR DISPOSABLE CARTON This invention relates to improvement in disposable paper or plastic cartons of the type used for containing milk and the like, and, more particularly, to apparatus for use with such a carton to dispense the contents thereof.

In dispensing such food items as mustard, catsup, and other flowable condiments, the food items are generally contained in a large glass jar whose lid is provided with a pump attachment whereby manual actuation of the pump will force the flowable food items out of the jar and onto a particular area, such as a hot dog, sandwich, and the like. Such glass jars are easily breakable if they fall off a table or support onto a floor or other surface, thus scattering the contents and requiring the usual clean-up procedure. While the jars are disposable, they take up space and it is not practical to break the jars after use and upon disposal.

The present invention is directed to improvements in the area of dispensing of food items of the type described and specifically relates to the dispensing of I such items from a disposable carton of the type made from paperor plastic such as conventionally used for containing 'milk. Such a carton has vertical sides and a top formed of a pair of sloping top sections which converge to an upright centrally disposed seal extension which closes the top. This particular seal extension is opened from one end by manually forcing the sections apart whereby a side section of the top forms a spout by which the contents can be poured from the carton.

This type of carton has been found suitable for dispensing mustard, catsup and other condiments because the carton can be made in a relatively large size, it is unbreakable, and it can be crushed after it is empty for disposal in the usual manner. The present invention is directed to a dispensing unit for use with a carton of this type wherein the unit can be coupled to the upper extension on the top of the carton and to allow a pump to extend into the same whereby upon actuation of the pump, the contents of the carton can be drawn out of the same.

To this end, the invention utilizes a support for a pump which fits onto the extension of the carton and extends downwardly along the sloping sections of the carton top. One side of the device has a hole therethrough for allowing the pump to extend into the carton after a hole hasbeen formed in the carton top. Thus, the pump can be actuated to draw out the contents of the carton while the device itself remains attached to the carton. The opposite side of the device can have a hole therethrough which serves as a template by means of which a hole can be cut in the top of the carton with a suitable cutting tool. The device can be separated from the carton after the latter has been emptied, so that the device can be reused.

The primary object of the invention is, therefore, to provide a dispenser unit for a plastic coated paper carton of the type having a pair of sloping top portions wherein the apparatus is removably mounted on the top and carries a pump for insertion into the carton so that, upon actuation of the pump, the contents of the carton can be removed and the apparatus can be reused after a particular carton has been emptied.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the type described wherein the pump is carried by one of a pair of sloping sides which conform to the sloping side portions of the top of a carton and which are interconnected by an inverted U-shaped central member, whereby the device can be frictionally coupled to the upstanding seal extension of a carton of the type described to thereby connect the apparatus to the carton to facilitate the operation of the pump carried by the one side.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combination container and dispenser for flowable materials wherein the container is disposable and has a sloping top and the dispenser is removably coupled to the top and includes a pump insertable into the carton so that the combination is suitable for containing and dispensing food items such as mustard, catsup, mayonnaise and the like.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing for an illustration of an embodiment of the apparatus.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a prospective view of a carton of the type having a sloping top and triangular end folds, utilizing the dispenser apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, top plan view of a portion of the dispenser apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3- 3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, side-elevational view of the dispenser apparatus and its pump on a carton containing a flowable material to be dispensed.

The present invention is directed to the removal of a flowable material from a carton tin of the type conventionally used for containing milk. Such a carton is shown in FIG. l and is formed from plastic coated paper. Initially, the carton is open and has a pair of opposed sides 12, a pair of opposed ends 14 and a top 16 formed from extensions 18 of sidewalls 12 and extensions 20 of end walls 14. Extensions l8 and 20 define, when the carton is closed, an upstanding extension 22 which defines the seal for the cartons, this seal being opened as is well known to present a spout which can be used to allow pouring of the contents from the carton.

The dispenser apparatus for use with carton 10 is denoted by the numeral 24 and is shown attached to top 16 of carton 10 in FIG. 4. Apparatus 24 includes a support 25 having a pair of sides 28 and 30 which are interconnected by a transversely U-shaped member 32. Sides 28 and 30 and member 32 can be integral with each other and can be formed from any suitable material, such as a plastic or the like. Member 32 has a pair of opposed sides 34 which are yieldable so that member 32 can be titted onto extension 22 of carton 10 so as to frictionally engage the same. Sides 28 and 30 slope at substantially the same angle as extensions 18 of carton 10 as shown in FIG. 4 when member 32 is coupled with extension 22.

Side 28 is provided with a hole 36 therethrough, the hole being surrounded by an annular, externally threaded projection 38 carried on a base 40 integral with side 28. Projection 38 is adapted to be threadably coupled to a connector 42 carried by a pump 44 whereby the pump can be releasably secured to side 28. Pump 44 can be of any conventional construction and is of the type having a tubular extension 46 which depends from connector 42 into the contents of container when the pump is coupled to projection 38. Preferably, the lower end of extension 46 will be adjacent to the bottom of the carton so as to assure emptying of the same during use.

Side is provided with a hole 48 therethrough which can operate to define a template for cutting a hole in the top of carton 10 so that pump 44 can extend into the carton. While hole 48 is shown as being triangular, it is clear that the hole can be of any desired configuration.

In use, a closed carton tin containing material to be dispensed is provided. Such material can be any flowable material capable of being pumped out of the carton. Such food items as mustard, catsup and mayonnaise are typical of the contents of the carton which can be dispensed with the present invention.

With pump 44 separated from projection 38, support 26 is placed on the top of the carton and member 32 is fitted over extension 22. A suitable cutting tool is used to cut a hole in the carton top using hole 38 as a template. After the hole has been cut, support 26 is rotated so that hole 36 overlies the hole in the carton. Pump 44 is then inserted through hole 36, into the carton and connected by connector 42 to projection 38. The contents of the carton can then be drawn out of the same by actuating the pump in the usual manner.

After the carton has been emptied, apparatus 24 can be separated therefrom and used with a full carton. It may be necessary to wash apparatus 24 and to flush the pump to remove the material previously pumped thereby. Such washing action is a simple matter and can be done immediately upon separation from the empty carton. The empty carton can then be crushed and thrown away while apparatus 24 can be used over and over again.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for dispensing a flowable material from a disposable carton of the type having a sloping top and an upstanding centrally disposed seal extension comprising: a support adapted to be positioned on said top of the carton; said support including a pair of relatively angularly disposed sides, with one of the sides having a hole therethrough; means on the support for releasably securing the same to the seal extension of the carton; and means carried by the support, coupled to the holecontaining side and extending through said hole for pumping the contents of the carton when the support is mounted on said carton top.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said releasable securing means includes a transversely U- shaped member having a pair of opposed side portions yieldably engageable with respective sides of the seal extension, said sides of the support being connected to respective end margins of said side portions.

3. Apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein each of the sides of the support has a hole therethrough, one of the sides having means adjacent to the corresponding hole for connecting a pump to the support, the hole of the other side defining a template for cutting a hole in the carton top.

4. In combination: a disposable carton having a top provided with a pair of sloping top sections and a centrallldisposed upstanding seal extension interconnectmg e top sections; one of the sections being formed from a material capable of being cut to form a hole therethrough; means insertable within the carton for pumping the contents of the latter out of the same; means releasably coupled to the extension for holding the pumping means on said carton top when the pumping means is inserted into the carton through a hole in said top, said means including a pair of sides positionable along respective top sections of said carton top; and means frictionally engageable with said seal extension for interconnecting the sides.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein each of the sides has a hole therethrough, one of the sides having means adjacent to the hole thereof for connecting said one side and said pumping means, the hole in the other side defining a template for use in cutting a hole in the carton top.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said interconnecting means includes a transversely U-shaped member, said sides being integral with respective end margins of the member and being formed from a moldable material.

7. In apparatus for dispensing flowable material from a disposable carton of the type having a sloping top and an upstanding centrally disposed seal extension: a support including a relatively rigid plate adapted to be mounted on said top and having means for holding a pump, whereby the pump can be inserted into the carton through a hole in said top; and means on the support for releasably attaching the same to said extension, said attaching means including a transversely U-shaped member integral with the plate for yieldably engaging the extension.

8. In apparatus for dispensing flowable material from a disposable carton of the type having a sloping top and an upstanding centrally disposed seal extension: a support including a pair of relatively angularly disposed sides, adapted to be mounted on said top and having means for holding a pump whereby the pump can be inserted into the carton through a hole in said top; and means on the support for releasably attaching the same to said extension, said attaching means transconnecting the sides and disposed for frictionally engaging the extension, each of said sides having a hole therethrough. 

1. Apparatus for dispensing a flowable material from a disposable carton of the type having a sloping top and an upstanding centrally disposed seal extension comprising: a support adapted to be positioned on said top of the carton; said support including a pair of relatively angularly disposed sides, with one of the sides having a hole therethrough; means on the support for releasably securing the same to the seal extension of the carton; and means carried by the support, coupled to the hole-containing side and extending through said hole for pumping the contents of the carton when the support is mounted on said carton top.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said releasable securing means includes a transversely U-shaped member having a pair of opposed side portions yieldably engageable with respective sides of the seal extension, said sides of the support being connected to respective end margins of said side portions.
 3. Apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein each of the sides of the support has a hole therethrough, one of the sides having means adjacent to the corresponding hole for connecting a pump to the support, the hole of the other side defining a template for cutting a hole in the carton top.
 4. In combination: a disposable carton having a top provided with a pair of sloping top sections and a centrally disposed upstanding seal extension interconnecting the top sections; one of the sections being formed from a material capable of being cut to form a hole therethrough; means insertable within the carton for pumping the contents of the latter out of the same; means releasably coupled to the extension for holding the pumping means on said carton top when the pumping means is inserted into the carton through a hole in said top, said means including a pair of sides positionable along respective top sections of said carton top; and means frictionally engageable with said seal extension for interconnecting the sides.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein each of the sides has a hole therethrough, one of the sides having means adjacent to the hole thereof for connecting said one side and said pumping means, the hole in the other side defining a template for use in cutting a hole in the carton top.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in clAim 4, wherein said interconnecting means includes a transversely U-shaped member, said sides being integral with respective end margins of the member and being formed from a moldable material.
 7. In apparatus for dispensing flowable material from a disposable carton of the type having a sloping top and an upstanding centrally disposed seal extension: a support including a relatively rigid plate adapted to be mounted on said top and having means for holding a pump, whereby the pump can be inserted into the carton through a hole in said top; and means on the support for releasably attaching the same to said extension, said attaching means including a transversely U-shaped member integral with the plate for yieldably engaging the extension.
 8. In apparatus for dispensing flowable material from a disposable carton of the type having a sloping top and an upstanding centrally disposed seal extension: a support including a pair of relatively angularly disposed sides, adapted to be mounted on said top and having means for holding a pump whereby the pump can be inserted into the carton through a hole in said top; and means on the support for releasably attaching the same to said extension, said attaching means transconnecting the sides and disposed for frictionally engaging the extension, each of said sides having a hole therethrough. 